Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Fest Goes The Grammy Route
Nine 2005 Grammy Nominees To Grace The Stage On Opening Night! NEW YORK, N.Y., Dec. 9, 2005: Soul crooner John Legend, who grabbed eight Grammy nominations on Thursday, Dec. 8, along with superstar Shaggy, who picked up one in the reggae category, are among the Grammy-winning line-up for this year’s Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival.
Legend and Shaggy, who picked up a Grammy for the first time in 1996, will join master flutist, Nestor Torres, also a Grammy winner; reggae’s highly hailed family, Morgan Heritage and the celebrated singer/songwriter/producer, Chester “”Lyfe”" Jennings, on opening night of the festival, Thursday, January 26, 2006.
The three-day festival is set for the historic Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego Bay, Jamaica and will run from January 26 through Saturday January 28.
Walter Elmore, president of Turn-Key Productions and the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival producer, in commenting on the nominations said, “”Jamaica is absolutely buzzing about John Legend and his eight Grammy nominations.
“”Having him play live at the festival is further proof that the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival continues to bring the world’s greatest artists to perform at the world’s greatest festival in the world’s greatest location!”"
Added Elmore, “”In addition, let us not forget about Shaggy. He is performing on the same night and is another Grammy nominated artist. All together, you can see nine Grammy nominations live on one stage on one night. Something that definitely needs to be seen to be believed!”"
Fans will no doubt get a taste of the songs from the albums that earned both Legend and Shaggy their nominations this year. Legend’s ‘Ordinary People,’ which earned him Grammy nominations in the Song Of The Year, Best R&B Song and the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance this year, is sure to make the cut.
While Shaggy fans are in for a treat as the singer is sure to unleash new hits from his Grammy-nominated album, ‘Clothes Drop,’ which features hits like ‘ Wild 2Nite,’ ‘Love Me Up’ and ‘Ready Fi Di Ride.’ But Legend and Shaggy are just some of the high-powered acts. On Friday night, Jan. 27, Richie Stephens, Jamaica’s ‘Golden Voice’ of reggae, is gearing up for an-hour long performance alongside the international cast of Rev. Green, an eight-time Grammy winner and inductee into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; legendary musical duo Air Supply and Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer Bo Diddley. While on the final night, Sat. Jan. 28, multiple Grammy Award winner Patti LaBelle , James Ingram, also a Grammy winner, Maxi Priest along with newcomer KEM, and the Reunion Jazz Quartet will heat things along with the Calypso King of the World, the Mighty Sparrow; Arrow of ‘Hot, Hot, Hot,’ fame, the Merry Men, Marcia Griffiths and Ken Lazarus. The calypso and reggae cast will laud music legend Byron Lee for his 50-year musical career. An event pass for the three-day festival costs US$160 while individual ticket prices range from US$50 for the Thursday night performance, $55 for Friday night and $60 for the final tribute night, Sat. Jan. 28.
Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival is a Turn Key Productions and has been running continuously for the past ten years. Sponsors include Air Jamaica, The Jamaica Tourist Board, American Express, Digicel, NCB Bank of Jamaica, Half-Moon Resort, Coral Cliff hotel, Holiday Inn, Jampro, Heineken beer, Supreme Ventures, AnBell and PanCaribbean. For JazzFest packages call Air Jamaica vacations at 1-800-LOVEBIRD or for more information, log on to: www.airjamaicajazzandblues.com Tickets will be available at the venue or through your favorite travel agent.